Sky News: Presentation Discussion

Ditching the weather presenters seems like an absurd move. The British have an obsession with the weather, and is often the subject of the news itself. If weather presenters are surplus to requirements, why stop there ? Why bother with separate sports or business presenters when Kay Burley could do the lot ?

Perhaps GMTV could take on Francis Wilson as part of their new look programme, he'd be good out on location and a bit of a throwback to his BBC Breakfast Time days.

I presume Lucy Versamy will stay on for Sunrise.

But I can't believe they'll be ditching the likes of Lisa Burke and Isobel Lang. Both of them are very popular and very educated in their field. It seems ridiculous for Sky to be doing this.

I guess there's a chance it could be a mutual decision between Sky and Francis. He may be quite happy to retire now.

Still, sad to see him go. Let's hope Peter Spencer doesn't follow him out. Two of the last real characters.

As someone else posted above, also noticed Colin Brazier has been off a fair bit. Probably just holidays although I guess he'll also be needing treatment from time to time.

Dropping weather presenters. I don't get that. I watch the news for weather and headlines. Have you watched CNN? I love their mix of news and chat with the weather presenters who not only give the forecast but report on weather related news. It makes a great light mix which I really enjoy.

The article says they're dropping from six weather presenters to four. I don't suppose we'll see much on-screen difference.

Axing senior staff due to studio costs. Style over substance and can't say I like it. Defence specialist seemingly gone, and a decent presenter (Chris Roberts isn't someone I've never really warmed too, but he is still good at his job)

Though on a moire positive note, Sarah Hughes is doing a great job on Saturday Live. 'Loosening up' on the lighter stuff unlike her Afternoon Live presenting last year


Build up an audience in the Gulf and get advertising from the region probably - hence the relaunch of Sky World News

Chris Roberts has been dropped? Did I understand the above posts correctly?

Most broadcasters have reasonably long running block deals with their helicopter operators - so don't actually save money by not flying the chopper unless they've already used all the days they've already agreed to pay for. They don't pay on a per-flight basis - as that would cost far more in the long run.

So they'd presumably need to renegotiate the deal when the current one finished ?

(Sky, ITN and the BBC also have quite a good pool agreement for some helicopter assignments - either agreeing to share a single helicopter, or to co-ordinate their facilities to allow for continuous coverage working around refuelling breaks)

Yep, Sky is sacking their Defence Correspondent and Chris Roberts, along with Francis Wilson and some of the other weather presenters.

From the sound of the posts in the MG thread - the suggestion is that only two of the six weather presenters are going. Presumably Francis and one other?

I haven't seen Denise Nurse for ages and her profile has gone from the new brochure on the Sky Press Office site - so maybe she is the second person to go (even though she is still listed under biographies section on the press office site).

Denise Nurse has been doing Travel programmes and recently noticed her on BBC's Escape to the Country